Library Disaster Recovery Lessons Learned and Opportunities Seized Bruce Neville and Anne Schultz Centennial Science and Engineering Library, University of New Mexico All photographs by Nancy Dennis Copryright 2005, University of New Mexico Libraries, Used with Permission

The Great Flood of ‘04

Lesson 1: Be Prepared

There are things you can do that don’t cost money

Lesson 1: Be Prepared There are things you can do that don’t cost money  Identify Priorities

Lesson 1: Be Prepared There are things you can do that don’t cost money  Identify Priorities  Have a recovery contractor on “retainer”

Lesson 2: Know what you have

 What’s hiding in the corners?

Lesson 2: Know what you have  What’s hiding in the corners?  How good is your catalog or shelf list?

Lesson 3: Life goes on

 You can’t overcommunicate!

Lesson 3: Life goes on  You can’t overcommunicate!  Maintain essential services

Lesson 4: Don’t assume

 Outside contractors

Lesson 4: Don’t assume  Outside contractors  Labelling

Lesson 4: Don’t assume  Outside contractors  Labelling  Everything takes longer than you think

Lesson 5: Others need healing, too

 Make opportunities to help

Lesson 5: Others need healing, too  Make opportunities to help  Provide closure

So Where Are We Now?

 Everything that wasn’t in boxes before is out of boxes now

So Where Are We Now?  Everything that wasn’t in boxes before is out of boxes now  All shelves are read, but still need a complete shift

So Where Are We Now?  Everything that wasn’t in boxes before is out of boxes now  All shelves are read, but still need a complete shift  Still have areas walled off and skylights covered in plastic

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